When you're enduring a lopsided loss by the Oilers (as OilersNation did today) it's important to remember that this team has a tremendous future. The three kids up front in Edmonton will soon be joined by a group of defensemen with varying skills and ability. In a very real way, the timing of the Oilers progress at the NHL level will depend heavily on the development of the blue in Oklahoma City.

Speaking of bogus Rolex watches and phoney Gucci luggage before the Edmonton Oilers took an 8-2 spanking from the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden today, that's exactly what Tom Gilbert was on this last road trip. Luggage, that is.

Exciting Last Place hockey continues this morning with the Oilers wrapping up a five-game road trip with a stop at MSG to take on the Rangers. A win would give the Oilers five points on the trip, and "technically" a .500 record, so you'd hope they come out with the same vigor they had in New Jersey on Friday night. One thing you can be sure of is that Derek Boogaard and Steve MacIntyre will drop the gloves today.

This is a young Curtis Hamilton. He is among several Oiler draft picks who are posting solid numbers in the WHL. Hamilton is a more complete player than the Oilers have drafted in the past (he's more than a "Coke machine"), so his offensive numbers have a wonderful kicker--he can be effective in more than one zone.

A Saturday night in The Big Apple on their very first trip to New York to play the Rangers at Madison Square Garden? I'm here to tell you, Edmonton Oilers rookies Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle and Magnus Paajarvi have hit the jackpot right out of the blocks.